Tuesday, October 12, 2010

County Council Hears Opposition Transfer of Contracts but Votes to Approve

At the Council weekly meeting on September 28, the St. Louis County Council heard from 11 residents who voiced strong opposition to the county’s controversial trash districting program and the proposal before the council to transfer three trash district contracts to Allied Waste, which would result in moving much closer to a monopoly with only two haulers (Allied and IESI) remaining as the “designated” haulers for the eight trash districts. The proposal was a result of Veolia ES exiting the St. Louis market and selling all of its assets to Allied Waste.

After listening to the opposition, the council voted 5 – 1, to approve the transfer, with one member (Greg Quinn, 7th District, R-Ballwin) absent. The dissenting vote came from Steve Stenger (D-Affton), the 6th district councilman from South County, who said that he voted according to the consensus among his constituents, as well as in the best interest of all county residents. Stenger’s district is the largest unincorporated area of St. Louis County and includes four of the eight trash districts.
The transfer of contract issue presented the county council with a dilemma in that the county administration and the majority of the council asserted that there was not enough time to seek bids on the remaining contracts, and the administration warned that a public emergency would result if the council did not approve the proposal.

The broadcast of the September 28 county council aired on Saturday, October 2. However, there was a technical problem and the tape stalled midway into the public forum segment of the meeting, so nearly half of the speakers were not heard, as well as the remainder of the meeting. The problem was reported to the St. Louis County Council and Charter Cable, and a response from both entities was requested.

Due to the technical problem with the broadcast, perhaps the most important speaker was not heard. That individual was Bryan Barcom, owner of American Eagle Waste Industries, who happens to be one of the winning plaintiffs in the trash haulers lawsuit. Bryan’s address to the county council is as follows:

“Bryan Barcom, American Eagle Waste, 7717 Alabama.

I have two things that I want to ask tonight, and the first one is to Mr. Dooley.

About two and a half, almost three years ago, me and my brother, Mike Barcom, which were partners in American Eagle, met with Charlie Dooley, Garry Earls, and Sheryl Hodges. And, when we sat down and met our first question was, let’s put this to a vote, let the people vote, and if they vote, then we’ll honor whatever the citizens’ vote in St. Louis County.

We’ve been to numerous meetings; we knew there wasn’t an overwhelming majority of people that wanted this. And out of Mr. Earls mouth and Mr. Dooley’s mouth is this is going to cost the citizens, or this is going to cost too much money to put it on the ballot. Well, three years later, what’s it going to cost the county now? A good head would have said we’re going to put this to a vote and we’re going to make sure. I don’t care what district three or anybody else wanted.

We had meetings, and hundreds and hundreds of people came and told you that they did not want this program. We told you that the Missouri state constitution didn’t allow you to have this program and we told you that your charter didn’t allow this program without a vote.

Second thing is, for Ms. Redington, is she went to the Court of Appeals and she told the judges at the court of appeals that they did not have the right to incorporate these trash districts, that they were giving the citizens an opportunity to get the best price and the best service. And, if all of you remember, I come here that night and told you that I’m coming back and I’m taking the customers back, because St. Louis County doesn’t have the right; they just give the people the opinion, or the option.

So, four of you on this panel decided that we were going to follow Mr. Dooley and Mr. Earls in a program and says all of a sudden we’re going to change this legislation and if you do we’re going to fine you.

So, what we need to understand here as a member of this council; you didn’t do anybody in St. Louis County that’s a taxpaying citizen any benefits by not understanding what you’re doing. You’re up here to represent, not your district, but every single person in St. Louis County. And, you failed, and you failed real big! And, then you want to make us be the bad guys to say that we’re out for money. We’re not out for money, what we’re doing is we’re stopping every single government entity from Missouri to wherever, that you’re going to follow the law. And you’re going to follow it or your going to pay, period! Thank you.”

Please feel free to pass this communication on to others who may be interested and to those who do not have internet access. Also, anyone interested in joining the protected e-mail distribution list should send his/her name, e-mail address and subdivision/area of residence to gregporter@prodigy.net.

Fox News presented this interview with County officials.
http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-you-paid-for-it-trash-pick-up-092910,0,7291893.story

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:21 AM

    Kind of reminds you of that 18 minute gap in the Watergate tapes, doesn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous11:06 PM

    What does anyone really think is going to come out of all of this? I don't think much in the end.

    I don't think if there is a settlement, it won't be much, a small negotiated minor cash settlement if any.

    St. Louis County gets slap on the hand.

    We won't go back to pre trash fiasco. It will remain the same, only more of it. Government control is here to stay.

    Dooley may loose his race, but, it won't change this.

    In the end, only the lawyers make lots of money......they always do.

    ReplyDelete